Figure 2

Effect of gradual exposure of normal rats to 45 cmH ₂ O peak airway pressure ventilation on lung water content and pulmonary permeability. Pulmonary edema was assessed by measuring extravascular lung water content (Qwl/BW) and permeability alterations by measuring bloodless dry-lung weight (DLW/BW) and the distribution space in the lungs of ¹²⁵I-labeled albumin (Alb. Space). Permeability pulmonary edema developed after only 5 minutes of mechanical ventilation. After 20 min of mechanical ventilation, there was a dramatic increase in lung water content and pulmonary permeability (p < 0.01 vs. other groups). Used with permission. From Dreyfuss et al. [8].